1/15/10
1/13/10
1/11/10
Owners of between 5 and 10 million pit-bull-type dogs in America Listen Up:
The dog wants to be sweet and docile, but well-meaning humans mess it all up.
On a10-acre stretch of land just outside Los Angeles, Villalobos Rescue Center, run by Tia Maria Torres, has found homes for thousands of pits since the rescue opened its doors 15 years ago. Some of these animals were abandoned. Some were shelter dogs slated for euthanasia. Others were confiscated in drug busts or fighting rings. And some are victims of nature, the so-called Hurricane Katrina dogs of New Orleans.
It's a 24/7 job... estimates show that there are anywhere from 5 million to 10 million pit-bull-type dogs in the U.S. today, out of about 61 million total dogs....pits have become popular and not just gangbangers and wannabe thugs who use a pit as proxy for toughness. About 20 percent of dogs in ASPCA shelters are pit mixes.
The trendiest pet owners spend thousands of dollars for a "blue" pits...profiting unethical breeders who contribute to the overpopulation problem. Pets aren't purses, and people who jump into pit-bull ownership without the requisite training and education can often do more harm than good. Pit-bull experts say that some current owners are too easy to spook, are too ill-informed, and have unrealistic expectations of what pit bulls can do: Pits make lousy guard dogs because a well-bred pit is just too human-friendly to protect your property, as just one misconception about the breed.
Pit bulls are no longer being purposefully bred along fighting lines. But pit bulls still can be dog aggressive (as are many other types of dogs). How that plays out will vary from pit to pit, and the dogs need a smart owner to keep them in line as pack leader. Dog aggression can be managed by getting a pit into a training program that offers structured, controlled socialization.
Pits are also among the most human-friendly canines. In tests conducted by the American Temperament Test Society, which evaluates stability, friendliness, and other traits in several hundred dog breeds, the American pit-bull terrier scored 85.3 percent, higher than a golden retriever. Their human-friendly nature remains strong even in horrific circumstances. "I thought I was going to meet a bunch of Tasmanian devils," says Dr. Frank MacMillan, a veterinarian with Best Friends Animal Sanctuary who is working with some 20 pit bulls rescued from Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennels. "I was stunned at how sweet they were."
That inherent sweetness toward people can lead well-meaning humans to be too permissive with their precious pooches. Because of its tendencies toward dog-on-dog aggression, Torres advises pit owners to keep their dogs out of mosh-pit, free-for-all dog parks. "If there's a fight, no matter what dog started it, the pit will be blamed."
At Villalobos, Torres does an exhaustive interview with potential adopters. She wants to know what kinds of dogs they owned in the past, whether there are kids in the house, if it's a multidog household, if they have a cat, and what they want from their pit. Once they answer those questions, Torres tries to match them up with the right pit bull. "The good thing about a pit is that some of them can be high energy, others just want to watch TV. "
Despite laws in many parts of the country that place restrictions on pit ownership... if you want to rescue a pit bull, Torres's advice is simple: Make sure the dog is the right one for you, and you are right for it. Get the dog spayed or neutered, obey leash laws and any local regulations, and do ongoing training.
On a10-acre stretch of land just outside Los Angeles, Villalobos Rescue Center, run by Tia Maria Torres, has found homes for thousands of pits since the rescue opened its doors 15 years ago. Some of these animals were abandoned. Some were shelter dogs slated for euthanasia. Others were confiscated in drug busts or fighting rings. And some are victims of nature, the so-called Hurricane Katrina dogs of New Orleans.
It's a 24/7 job... estimates show that there are anywhere from 5 million to 10 million pit-bull-type dogs in the U.S. today, out of about 61 million total dogs....pits have become popular and not just gangbangers and wannabe thugs who use a pit as proxy for toughness. About 20 percent of dogs in ASPCA shelters are pit mixes.
The trendiest pet owners spend thousands of dollars for a "blue" pits...profiting unethical breeders who contribute to the overpopulation problem. Pets aren't purses, and people who jump into pit-bull ownership without the requisite training and education can often do more harm than good. Pit-bull experts say that some current owners are too easy to spook, are too ill-informed, and have unrealistic expectations of what pit bulls can do: Pits make lousy guard dogs because a well-bred pit is just too human-friendly to protect your property, as just one misconception about the breed.
Pit bulls are no longer being purposefully bred along fighting lines. But pit bulls still can be dog aggressive (as are many other types of dogs). How that plays out will vary from pit to pit, and the dogs need a smart owner to keep them in line as pack leader. Dog aggression can be managed by getting a pit into a training program that offers structured, controlled socialization.
Pits are also among the most human-friendly canines. In tests conducted by the American Temperament Test Society, which evaluates stability, friendliness, and other traits in several hundred dog breeds, the American pit-bull terrier scored 85.3 percent, higher than a golden retriever. Their human-friendly nature remains strong even in horrific circumstances. "I thought I was going to meet a bunch of Tasmanian devils," says Dr. Frank MacMillan, a veterinarian with Best Friends Animal Sanctuary who is working with some 20 pit bulls rescued from Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennels. "I was stunned at how sweet they were."
That inherent sweetness toward people can lead well-meaning humans to be too permissive with their precious pooches. Because of its tendencies toward dog-on-dog aggression, Torres advises pit owners to keep their dogs out of mosh-pit, free-for-all dog parks. "If there's a fight, no matter what dog started it, the pit will be blamed."
At Villalobos, Torres does an exhaustive interview with potential adopters. She wants to know what kinds of dogs they owned in the past, whether there are kids in the house, if it's a multidog household, if they have a cat, and what they want from their pit. Once they answer those questions, Torres tries to match them up with the right pit bull. "The good thing about a pit is that some of them can be high energy, others just want to watch TV. "
1/5/10
Public perception of the APBT is misinformed by media hype.
The APBT is a misunderstood breed that was once a national symbol of courage and pride, that is demonized in the media. A pit bull can make a great family pet but they are not the dog for everyone. They are bold, active creatures and can get into all sorts of adventures (and misadventures). If you are considering a pit bull, ask yourself if you are willing to learn all you can about this breed so you can educate people and handle the negative image, looks and comments from the public. Also, ask yourself if you will have time to train, socialize, exercise and provide a safe environment. Finally, ask yourself if you will be able to make a lifetime commitment to this breed. Only through responsible ownership can we change the pit bull's image.
1/3/10
Overpopulation of wolves at 210 individuals leads to culling.
Swedish hunters have begun culling wolves for the first time in 45 years after parliament ruled that numbers needed to be reduced again. Hunters have until 15 February to complete the cull, which will leave Sweden with an estimated 210 wolves.
Some 10,000 hunters were reported to be planning to take part in the hunt to kill 27 wolves out of the population of 210.
Nevertheless, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation was critical of the decision to proceed with the cull, saying it was against EU legislation as the Swedish wolf population had not reached a healthy level. A formal complaint was to be issued to the EU Commission, Swedish radio said. The hunt is timed to end before the mating season, which begins in mid-February.
Wolves were hunted to near extinction in southern Scandinavia until a hunting ban was imposed in the 1970s.
Sweden and Norway have worked together to reintroduce the species to the forests along their border. When Norway culled some wolves in 2001, saying the population had spread too far, Sweden lodged a protest. But the Swedish parliament recently decided there should be at most 210 wolves in Sweden. Michael Schneider of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency says that was the level last year, and since then more than 20 pairs of wolves have had pups.
This cull is pointed out because there are 61 million domestic dogs in America and what happens if some bureaucrat decides the time has come to reduce the numbers?
The FBI estimates that there are over 200 million privately-owned firearms in the US. If you add those owned by the military, law enforcement agencies and museums, there is probably about 1 gun per person in the country or about 350,000,000 guns in Total.
China culled their dogs in most brutal fashion because dogs are bourgeois and do not conform to Communistic views.
Story from BBC NEWS
Some 10,000 hunters were reported to be planning to take part in the hunt to kill 27 wolves out of the population of 210.
Nevertheless, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation was critical of the decision to proceed with the cull, saying it was against EU legislation as the Swedish wolf population had not reached a healthy level. A formal complaint was to be issued to the EU Commission, Swedish radio said. The hunt is timed to end before the mating season, which begins in mid-February.
Wolves were hunted to near extinction in southern Scandinavia until a hunting ban was imposed in the 1970s.
Sweden and Norway have worked together to reintroduce the species to the forests along their border. When Norway culled some wolves in 2001, saying the population had spread too far, Sweden lodged a protest. But the Swedish parliament recently decided there should be at most 210 wolves in Sweden. Michael Schneider of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency says that was the level last year, and since then more than 20 pairs of wolves have had pups.
This cull is pointed out because there are 61 million domestic dogs in America and what happens if some bureaucrat decides the time has come to reduce the numbers?
The FBI estimates that there are over 200 million privately-owned firearms in the US. If you add those owned by the military, law enforcement agencies and museums, there is probably about 1 gun per person in the country or about 350,000,000 guns in Total.
China culled their dogs in most brutal fashion because dogs are bourgeois and do not conform to Communistic views.
Story from BBC NEWS
Ban Puppy Mills and Ban Backyard Breeders.
Overpopulation is a problem for many dog breeds in North America and the statistics are depressing when you become acquainted with the magnitude of the problem. Too many dogs are being born into unhappy circumstances. China has a one-child policy to curb its human population growth and academics suggest that is the only solution that will save this planet from Global catastrophe. People need to stop breeding pets as an income source or by negligence in spaying and neutering their pets because the outcome is a staggering number of dogs being euthanized.
"There comes a time in the affairs of man when he must stand up and be counted. Does he believe in the words he mouths, or is he only doing lip service? Trying to straddle the fence and then fall in whichever direction looks as though it might be most advantageous to him? This is a question each and every person must answer for himself." ~ Virginia McCoy, circa 1976
Choosing to own a rescue dog for the second time has caused me to re-visit the terrible problem that exists as regards dog overpopulation and the societal solution to the problem being euthanasia. There are plenty of stories about the problem but judging by the lack of progress it seems like very few people are listening to reason.
We are a consumer society and even satisfy our acquisitiveness by purchasing dogs that are "in-fashion" like the chihuahua. When these dogs are no longer popular the buyers think you can just toss this living creature onto the trash heap like last year's sweater. This is nothing short of reprehensible and perhaps cruelty laws need to be expanded and toughened.
Animal cruelty is a crisis in our society and needs to be addressed. Education is plentiful but it is not being heeded.
"There comes a time in the affairs of man when he must stand up and be counted. Does he believe in the words he mouths, or is he only doing lip service? Trying to straddle the fence and then fall in whichever direction looks as though it might be most advantageous to him? This is a question each and every person must answer for himself." ~ Virginia McCoy, circa 1976
Choosing to own a rescue dog for the second time has caused me to re-visit the terrible problem that exists as regards dog overpopulation and the societal solution to the problem being euthanasia. There are plenty of stories about the problem but judging by the lack of progress it seems like very few people are listening to reason.
We are a consumer society and even satisfy our acquisitiveness by purchasing dogs that are "in-fashion" like the chihuahua. When these dogs are no longer popular the buyers think you can just toss this living creature onto the trash heap like last year's sweater. This is nothing short of reprehensible and perhaps cruelty laws need to be expanded and toughened.
Animal cruelty is a crisis in our society and needs to be addressed. Education is plentiful but it is not being heeded.
Dianne Jessup tells us to be stewards of the pit bull breed.
The dictionary definition of a steward is "someone who manages property or other affairs for someone else". When stewarding a breed, you manage the breed FOR the breed - not for yourself. THIS is the absolute difference between someone who is "in the dogs" for themselves, and those rare and important individuals who put the welfare of the breed before their own goals.
"Every pure breed or working strain of animal around today is here because people stewarded it through the decades or centuries to us. Some animals have been well served by their stewards - others, not so much. Take for example, the American bred German shepherd, now a virtual cripple and no longer useful for the work for which it was developed. Or the show bulldog; perhaps the most extreme example of poor stewardship. In the case of the show bulldog, people most certainly put their own desire for show points over the welfare of the animal.
Today there are societies in place for the preservation of "heritage" breeds. As agribusiness focuses on only one or two super-producer breeds of chickens, cows and pigs, many important breeds are dying out.
WHY STEWARD PIT BULLS?: Pit bulls are one of the oldest breeds of dogs. Long before many of today's modern show breeds existed, the "main" groups of dogs, sled dogs, greyhounds, mastiffs/bulldogs, flock dogs and hounds were breeding pure to type. The "American" pit bull represents the purest of the bulldog blood surviving today. (If you doubt this, consider every breed whose fans attempt to state they are the "original" bull baiting dog is a direct cross off the purebred American pit bull!) Many pit bulls have pedigrees which reach back into the mid 1800's - far older than most "Best of Show" winners at Westminster!
The blood of the pit bull - and thus the purest of working bulldogs - has been used to make and improve dozens of breeds. The genes of the American pit bull may, in the future, be used again to shore up other breeds needing a "shot in the arm".
Besides that, the "real" American pit bull is a medium sized, short haired, people friendly breed with an amazing sense of humor and fewer health issues than the average breed. They are proving useful for detection work, are useful in the eradication of destructive wild hogs and have along and storied history of service to man.
Stewardship is much more than just breeding litters. Much, much more. In fact, sometimes it means knowing when not to produce pups for resale. Overpopulation is responsible for all the problems our pit bulls face today.
"Every pure breed or working strain of animal around today is here because people stewarded it through the decades or centuries to us. Some animals have been well served by their stewards - others, not so much. Take for example, the American bred German shepherd, now a virtual cripple and no longer useful for the work for which it was developed. Or the show bulldog; perhaps the most extreme example of poor stewardship. In the case of the show bulldog, people most certainly put their own desire for show points over the welfare of the animal.
Today there are societies in place for the preservation of "heritage" breeds. As agribusiness focuses on only one or two super-producer breeds of chickens, cows and pigs, many important breeds are dying out.
WHY STEWARD PIT BULLS?: Pit bulls are one of the oldest breeds of dogs. Long before many of today's modern show breeds existed, the "main" groups of dogs, sled dogs, greyhounds, mastiffs/bulldogs, flock dogs and hounds were breeding pure to type. The "American" pit bull represents the purest of the bulldog blood surviving today. (If you doubt this, consider every breed whose fans attempt to state they are the "original" bull baiting dog is a direct cross off the purebred American pit bull!) Many pit bulls have pedigrees which reach back into the mid 1800's - far older than most "Best of Show" winners at Westminster!
The blood of the pit bull - and thus the purest of working bulldogs - has been used to make and improve dozens of breeds. The genes of the American pit bull may, in the future, be used again to shore up other breeds needing a "shot in the arm".
Besides that, the "real" American pit bull is a medium sized, short haired, people friendly breed with an amazing sense of humor and fewer health issues than the average breed. They are proving useful for detection work, are useful in the eradication of destructive wild hogs and have along and storied history of service to man.
Stewardship is much more than just breeding litters. Much, much more. In fact, sometimes it means knowing when not to produce pups for resale. Overpopulation is responsible for all the problems our pit bulls face today.
1/2/10
Read and Weep: exponential numbers and the canine population.
If none are spayed or neutered, a female dog, her mate, and their offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in 6 years.
Rather than waste valuable time with Breed Specific Legislation, propose a ban on backyard breeders and puppy mills. This legislation would combat much of the abuse and abandonment that creates vicious, poorly trained and sickly animals. These facilities are run by "fast buck artists" who are long gone when trouble starts. The society at large ultimately pays for these abuses by being forced to deal with the abandoned and sick animals through agencies like the SPCA.
Does this seem right? Wasting time blaming a few breeds for all the problems when the real culprits are greedy human beings who over produce popular dogs like the Chihuahua which is flooding into animal shelters at an asounding rate. People bought them because they were featured in TV commercials, talking animal movies and some irrational celebrities trotted them out as fashion accessories. Now people are finding all kinds of problems with this breed, such as, they are very difficult to house train.
Here is how the human population will grow to 9.5 billion people by 2050. Our trusty dog population will be growing right along with the number of humans on the Planet so sadly dog rescue is here to stay. We need better options to stop animal suffering, abuse and abandonment. Spay and neuter your pets.
Rather than waste valuable time with Breed Specific Legislation, propose a ban on backyard breeders and puppy mills. This legislation would combat much of the abuse and abandonment that creates vicious, poorly trained and sickly animals. These facilities are run by "fast buck artists" who are long gone when trouble starts. The society at large ultimately pays for these abuses by being forced to deal with the abandoned and sick animals through agencies like the SPCA.
Does this seem right? Wasting time blaming a few breeds for all the problems when the real culprits are greedy human beings who over produce popular dogs like the Chihuahua which is flooding into animal shelters at an asounding rate. People bought them because they were featured in TV commercials, talking animal movies and some irrational celebrities trotted them out as fashion accessories. Now people are finding all kinds of problems with this breed, such as, they are very difficult to house train.
Here is how the human population will grow to 9.5 billion people by 2050. Our trusty dog population will be growing right along with the number of humans on the Planet so sadly dog rescue is here to stay. We need better options to stop animal suffering, abuse and abandonment. Spay and neuter your pets.
The world population increased from 3 billion in 1959 to 6 billion by 1999, a doubling that occurred over 40 years. The Census Bureau's latest projections imply that population growth will continue into the 21st century, although more slowly. The world population is projected to grow from 6 billion in 1999 to 9 billion by 2045, an increase of 50 percent that is expected to require 46 years.
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